홍국 紅麴 Red yeast rice

 

 

 

 

 

Red yeast rice

Overview:

Red yeast rice has been used for centuries in China as both a food and a medicinal product. It is made by fermenting a type of yeast called Monascus purpureus over red rice. In Chinese medicine, red yeast rice is used to lower cholesterol, promote blood circulation and aid digestive problems.

 

Research has shown that red yeast rice contains substances that are similar to prescription statin medications. one of these substances, called monacolin K, has the same makeup as the drug lovastatin. Statins are prescribed to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol levels and help reduce the risk of heart disease.

 

Researchers aren't sure if the cholesterol-lowering effect of red yeast rice was due to the presence of lovastatin or other compounds in red yeast rice. But because many red yeast rice supplements did contain lovastatin, the Food and Drug Administration considered them to be drugs, not supplements, and required that manufacturers remove any red yeast rice products that contained lovastatin from the market. As a result, many of the red yeast rice products now on the U.S. market may not contain lovastatin, and it is very difficult for a consumer to find out which ones do and which ones don't.

 

 

 

 

홍국(紅麴) 이야기
홍국균은 분류학상 반자낭균과(Hemiascomycetaceae)종의 홍국균속(Monascaceae)에 속하며 황국 균에 가까운 균족으로 현재 약 20종, 균주로서 약 70종류가 분리 동정되어 있고 균의 종류에 따라 생 물활성에 차이가 있습니다. 이 홍국균속(Monascaceae)은 적색계와 황색계의 여러 색소를 생산하며 주요 색소에는 6종류가 있습니다. 홍국균을 이용한 koji는 주로 중국 남부나 대만에서 600년 이전부터 이용되어 왔으며 홍국균이 붉은 색소를 생산하기 때문에 koji는 깊은 홍색을 띱니다. 이 koji를 홍국(紅麴), Monascus속을 일반적으로 홍국균이라 부르는 것은 이 때문입니다. 이 홍국균을 쌀에 발효시켜 얻을 수 있는 붉은 쌀을 홍국(紅麴)이라 합니다.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Therapeutic Uses:

Prevention

Red yeast rice has been shown in several studies to lower "bad" LDL cholesterol levels. High cholesterol levels increase the risk of heart disease. Research has shown that red yeast (Monascus purpureus) stops the action of an enzyme in the body called HMG-CoA reductase, which helps make cholesterol. Red yeast rice contains substances known as monacolins. one of these, monacolin K, has the same chemical makeup as lovastatin, a prescription drug that lowers cholesterol. Some researchers think that this substance is responsible for red yeast rice's cholesterol-lowering properties. But others note that the amount of lovastatin in red yeast rice is below what you would find in the prescription drug, and think there may be other substances in red yeast rice that help lower cholesterol. More study is needed.

 

 

 

2. 유래
중국 명(明)나라 이시진(李時珍: 1518∼1593)이 엮은 본초강목[本草綱目]에는 [소화를 돕고 피를 소생케 하며(消食活血), 비장을 강하게 하고 위를 조절하며(建脾燥胃), 여인의 피를 소생케 하여 부인병을 고친다(治女人血氣痛)]라고 기술되어 있다.-중국유래

조선시대 허준(許浚:1546~1615)이 저술한 동의보감[東醫寶鑑]의 탕액편(湯液篇) 곡부(穀部)에는 [홍국(紅麴)은 피를 잘 돌게 하고 음식이 소화되게 하며 이질을 멎게 하는 신국(神麴, 약누룩)]이라고 기술되어 있다. -한국유래

 

 

Treatment

Several studies suggest that red yeast rice significantly reduces high cholesterol. However, most of the studies have used a formulation of red yeast rice -- Cholestin -- that is no longer available in the U.S. Although a product called Cholestin is available, it no longer contains red yeast rice. The Food and Drug Administration requires any red yeast product discovered to contain lovastatin to be taken off the market. It may be hard for American consumers to know what the red yeast rice product they buy contains.

These studies support the ability of red yeast rice to lower cholesterol:

• A 2008 study compared a group of people with high cholesterol who took fish oil and red yeast rice with a group who took a standard dose of simvastatin. The red yeast rice was purchased directly from the manufacturer and contained lovastatin, but at a lower dose than what you would find in the prescription drug. Both groups saw a similar reduction in cholesterol levels.
• One study by the UCLA School of Medicine involved 83 people with high cholesterol levels. Those who received red yeast rice over a 12-week period experienced significantly lower levels of total cholesterol, "bad" LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (fats in the blood) compared to those taking placebo. "Good" HDL cholesterol levels did not change in either study group.
• A study presented before the American Heart Association also showed that red yeast rice lowered LDL cholesterol. In the first study, 187 people had mild-to-moderate elevations in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. The study showed that treatment with red yeast rice reduced total cholesterol by more than 16%, LDL cholesterol by 21%, and triglycerides by 24%. HDL cholesterol also increased by 14%.
• In another 8-week study of 446 people with high cholesterol, those receiving red yeast rice had a significant drop in cholesterol levels compared to those who took placebo. Total cholesterol fell by 22.7%, LDL by 31%, and triglycerides by 34% in the red yeast rice group. HDL cholesterol increased by 20% in the red yeast rice group as well.

 

 

 

 

3. 홍국(紅麴)의 효능

⑴ 홍국(紅麴)의 혈중 콜레스테롤 저하작용
콜레스테롤은 특히 뇌신경 조직 등의 장기에 다량 함유되어 있는 세포의 일반 성분이며 세포막 등의 구성성분임과 동시에 담즙, 호르몬류, 비타민 D 등의 전구체가 되는 중요한 성분입니다. 그러나 혈액 중 콜레스테롤이 과하게 늘어나면 동맥경화의 원인이 된 다고 알려져 있습니다.
콜레스테롤은 하루 약 2g 정도가 흡수되는데 그 중 1/3은 식사에서 비롯되며, 2/3는 주로 간장에서 생합성됩니다. 따라서 체내 콜레스테롤의 양을 조절하려면 체내에서의 생합성을 조절해야 합니다. 체내에서 콜레스테롤은‘그림 1’에 나타난 것처럼 아세틸 CoA를 출발물질로 복잡한 반응을 거쳐 합성이 됩니다. 이 생합성 경로에서는 HMG-CoA reductase 반응이 율속(律速) 단계로써 콜레스테롤의 합성 속도를 결정하는 단계입니다. 따라서 이 효소활성에 의해서 콜레스테롤 합성량이 증감합니다. 홍국(紅麴)은 본 효소활성을 저해하여 간장의 콜레스테롤 합성량을 저하시키고, 그 결과 혈중 콜레스테롤 농도가 저하하고 고지혈증(동맥경화 뇌졸중의 원인)에 효과가 있다는 것이 확인되었습니다.

⑵ 홍국(紅麴)의 혈압강하작용
홍국(紅麴)에는 황국(Aspergillus oryzae) 등에 비교해서 강력한 혈압강하작용이 있는 것으로 보고되고 있습니다. 일본 국립영양 연구소팀이 고혈압 자연발생 랫트(SHR)를 이용한 혈압변동실험에서 홍국(紅麴)을 쌀 홍국(紅麴)으로 양조된 된장(홍국비율 7%), 쌀 홍국(紅麴) 분말을 3% 첨가한 빵을 사료 중에 10% 첨가하였을 때 혈압강하효과가 나타났습니다. 그 작용기작으로는 이제껏 알려졌던 Na/K 이온 교환에 의한 Na 배설촉진작용이나 Angiotensin converting enzyme 저해와 관련된 작용과 무관 했으며 홍국(紅麴)에 함유된 감마-아미노산(γ-aminobutyric acid)이나 아세틸콜린(acetylcholine)이 그 성분의 하나로 기여하고 있을 것으로만 추정되고 있었습니다. 그러나 최근의 연구자료에 의하면 홍국(紅麴)의 주요 혈압강하 기작의 하나로 홍국(紅麴)의 내피세포 의존적 혈관이완 작용이라는 것이 밝혀져 보고되었습니다. 이 작용은 현재 중요한 혈관이완인자의 하나로 지목되고 있는 nitric oxide에 의해 유발되며 감마-아미노산(γ-aminobutyric acid)이나 아세틸콜린(acetylcholine)은 관여하지 않으며 또한 작용물질은 홍국(紅麴)에 존재하는 수용성 성분(WP/FRM)인 것으로 확인되었습니다. 그러나 작용물질은 아직 순수 분리되지 않았습니다.
홍국 건조 분말을 시료에 3.7% 첨가하여(시료 중 실제 홍국 함량은 0.325%) 생후 5주가 지난 고혈압 자연발생 랫트(SHR)에 50 일간 투여하며 1주일 간격으로 혈압을 측정한 결과 홍국 분말 섭취 2주 후부터 혈압상승이 유의적으로 억제되었으며 홍국 분말 식이를 중단시켰을 때 혈압상승 억제현상은 나타나지 않았습니다

⑶ 홍국(紅麴)의 혈당강하작용
체중 160~180g의 wister계 웅성 랫트를 24시간 절식시킨 후 대조군으로 전분(1g/kg)을 경구 투여하고 동시에 홍국(紅麴) 500mg/kg을 경구 투여하여 30분 및 1시간 이후에 꼬리 정맥으로부터 채혈하여 통상적으로 혈당치를 측정하였습니다. 이 결 과 대조군과 비교하여 홍국(紅麴) 투여군 에서는 혈당치가 30분 후에 17%, 1시간 후에는 20% 저하되었습니다.

⑷ 홍국(紅麴)의 산화작용
홍국(紅麴)에는 강력한 항산화 작용이 있는 것이 밝혀졌는데 항산화 물질로써 dimerumic acid가 있는 것이 확인 되었습니다

(5)기타홍국의효능[성분]으로 , 항암[Monacolin-K, Monacorubrin], 항균[Monacolin-K, Rubropunctatin], 골밀도 강화[Monacolin analogs], 등이 미국, 일본, 중국 등지에서 연구 발표되었다.

 

Dietary Sources:

Red yeast rice is used in powdered form as a food coloring in Asia and in Chinese communities in North America, most commonly for coloring fish, alcoholic beverages, and cheese.

 

Dosage and Administration:

Red yeast rice is an ingredient in several commercially available combination supplement products that are marketed to promote heart health. Red yeast rice is also available in commercial preparations. one of the proprietary products most often studied was Cholestin, which contained lovastatin. However, the Food and Drug Administration required the manufacturer to remove that product from the market. The current formulation of Cholestin does not contain red yeast rice.

 

 

 

 

 

Pediatric

People younger than 20 years should not use red yeast rice supplements.

 

Adult

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the dosage of dietary or supplemental red yeast rice is as high as 6,000 - 9,000 mg per day. But the appropriate dosage for adults may vary, depending on the form of the supplement. Most studies have used standardized extract: use 600 mg (oral doses), two to four times daily.

 

Precautions:

It's not clear whether it is safe to use red yeast rice for longer than 12 weeks.

People with liver disease and those at risk for liver disease should not take red yeast rice. Red yeast rice may affect liver function in the same way prescription cholesterol-lowering medications can.

The following people should not take red yeast rice: people with kidney disease, people with thyroid disorders, those at higher risk of cancer, and those with musculoskeletal disorders.

People who drink more than two alcoholic beverages a day, have a serious infection or physical disorder, or have undergone an organ transplant should also avoid using red yeast rice.

 

Side Effects

Side effects of red yeast rice are rare but can include:

• Headache
• Stomach ache or bloating
• Gas
• Dizziness
• Heartburn
• Muscle aches and weakness -- this can lead to a serious condition called rhabdomyolysis, and you should stop taking red yeast rice immediately and call your doctor

 

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should not take red yeast rice.

 

Pediatric Use

People under 20 should not take red yeast rice until more research is done.

 

Geriatric Use

No studies have specifically looked at the safety of red yeast rice in older adults. However, elderly people who took 1,200 mg per day of red yeast rice in an 8-week study had no significant side effects.

 

Interactions and Depletions:

Cholesterol-lowering medications -- Red yeast rice should not be taken with cholesterol-lowering medications unless supervised by your doctor. Red yeast rice may make the effect of these drugs stronger, increasing the risk of liver damage. If you are already taking a statin or other drug to lower cholesterol, talk to your doctor before adding red yeast rice to your regimen.

Anticoagulants (blood-thinners) -- Red yeast rice may increase the risk of bleeding.

Grapefruit juice -- If you take a statin, grapefruit and grapefruit juice can increase the amount of the drug in your blood. That can increase your risk of side effects and liver damage. Because red yeast rice may act like statins in the body, you should avoid drinking grapefruit juice or eating grapefruit while taking red yeast rice.

Coenzyme Q10 -- Statins can lower the amount of Coenzyme Q10 in the body. CoQ10 is very important in heart and muscle health and in energy production. Side effects of CoQ10 depletion include fatigue, muscle aches and pains, and muscle damage. Red yeast rice also may lower amounts of CoQ10 in the body. Ask your doctor about taking 150 - 200 mg CoQ10 at night while you are taking red yeast rice products, and for 4 weeks after you stop taking red yeast rice.

 

Alternative Names:

Angkak; Beni-koji; Hong qu; Hung-chu; Monascus; Red koji; Red leaven; Red rice; Xue zhi kang; Zhitai

• Reviewed last on: 12/16/2008
• Steven D. Ehrlich, NMD, private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

 

Supporting Research

Becker DJ, Gordon RY, Morris PB, Yorko J, Gordon YJ, Li M, Iqbal N. Simvastatin vs therapeutic lifestyle changes and supplements: randomized primary prevention trial. Mayo Clin Proc. 2008 Jul;83(7):758-64.

Bonovich, K, Colfer H, Davidson M, Dujovne C, Greenspan M, Karlberg R, et al. A Multi-Center, Self-Controlled Study of Cholestin In Subjects With Elevated Cholesterol. American Hear Association. 39^th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Orlando, Fl. March 1999.

Havel R. Dietary supplement or drug? The case of cholestin. Am J Clin Nut.r 1999;69(2):175-176.

Heber D, Yip I, Ashley JM, Elashoff DA, Go VLW. Cholesterol-lowering effects of a proprietary Chinese red-yeast-rice dietary supplement. Am J Clin Nutr. 1999;69:231-236.

Huang CF, Li TC, Lin CC, Liu CS, Shih HC, Lai MM. Efficacy of Monascus purpureus Went rice on lowering lipid ratios in hypercholesterolemic patients. Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2007 Jun;14(3):438-40.

Li C, Li Y, Hou Z. Toxicity study for Monascus purpureus (red yeast) extract. Information of the Chinese Pharmacology Society. 1995;12 (4):12 [Translation].

Li C, Zhu Y, Wang Y, Zhu J, Chang J, Kritchevsky D. Monascus Purpureus-Fermented Rice (Red Yeast Rice): A natural food product that lowers blood cholesterol in animal models of hypercholesterolemia. Nutrition Research. 1998;18(1):71-81.

Liu J, Zhang J, Shi Y, Grimsgaard S, Alraek T, Fønnebø V. Chinese red yeast rice (Monascus purpureus) for primary hyperlipidemia: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Chin Med. 2006 Nov 23;1:4.

Ma J, Li Y, Ye Q, Li J, Hua Y, Ju D, et al. Constituents of red yeast rice, a traditional Chinese food and medicine. J Agric Food Chem. 2000;48:5220-5225.

Mueller PS. Symptomatic myopathy due to red yeast rice. Ann Intern Med. 2006;145(6):474-5.

Ong HT, Cheah JS. Statin alternatives or just placebo: an objective review of omega-3, red yeast rice and garlic in cardiovascular therapeutics. Chin Med J (Engl). 2008 Aug 20;121(16):1588-94.

Qin S, Zhang W, Qi P, Zhao M, Dong Z, Li Y , et al. Elderly patients with primary hyperlipidemia benefited from treatment with a Monacus purpureus rice preparation: A placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. American Heart Association. 39^th Annual conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Orlando, Fl. March 1999.

Wang J, Lu Z, Chi J, Wang W, Su M, Kou W, et al. Multicenter clinical trial of serum lipid-lowering effects of a Monascus purpureus (red yeast) rice preparation from traditional Chinese medicine. Curr Ther Res. 1997;58(12):964-978.

Vercelli L, Mongini T, Olivero N, Rodolico C, Musumeci O, Palmucci L. Chinese red rice depletes muscle coenzyme Q10 and maintains muscle damage after discontinuation of statin treatment. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006;54(4):718-20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.choosi.co.kr/sub3_2.html

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/red-yearice-000323.htm